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The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
May 6-7, 2006
Moon Lake GC • Saskatoon, SK
Smith qualifies for Maple Leaf Team Canada to Mexico
SASKATOON, SK. – The Saskatchewan season-opener on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada’s only national junior tour run exclusively by Golf Professionals, was held this past weekend at Moon Lake Golf Club in Saskatoon, where young players from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta competed for a spot on Maple Leaf Team Canada to Mexico.
The two-day tournament was sponsored by Finora, a major Canadian supplier and processor of beans, peas and lentils, and was to qualify one boy for the Canadian contingent in the 5th International Junior Golf Invitational in Cuernavaca, Mexico, August 14-18, 2006 – matches which were won by the MJT Team last year. The rest of the eight-player squad for 2006 are being selected from other qualifiers across the country.
Cornel Smith, 17, of Regina, SK, shot 70-77 (147) to take the Boys 17 & up division title by six strokes and secure his spot on Maple Leaf Team Canada in style. “The highlight of the tournament for me was being able to shoot two-under-par for my first tournament and second round of the season,” said Smith, a junior member at Wascana Golf Club. “It was quite windy and I had a lot of bad breaks during the second round with my ball plugging in bunkers and so on, but this lets me know I can win any tournament and it is very exciting to make the team.” Tied for second place in the division was Thomas Weikle, 17, of Cut Knife, SK, and Jordan Rayner, 18, of Edmonton, AB, who both fired a two-day total of 153. One stroke back in fourth place was Tim Acaster, 17, of North Battleford, SK, (81-73=154), after shooting the low round of the day for round two (73).
Champion of the Boys 14-16 division was Jesse Gibson, 14, of Saskatoon, SK, and Riverside Golf Club, who closed with a fine 75 for a 151 total score for 36 holes and a two stoke victory. Bret Schneider, 16, of Regina, SK, placed second in the division after shooting 76-77 (153). Tied for third at 156 total score was Chad Lavallee, 16, of Meadow Lake, SK (78-78) and first-round leader Cory Southam, 16, of Strongfield, SK, who shot 75-81.
Taylor Afseth, 13, of Saskatoon, SK, another Riverside Golf Club junior, won the Boys 13 and under division after posting scores of 78-85 for a 163 total. Afseth beat runner-up Ryan Hubert, 13, of Wakaw, SK , who shot back-to-back rounds of 85, by seven strokes. Jehremy Ryde, 13, of Eston, SK, took third place with scores of 85-91 (176).
In the Girls division, Kyla Reay, 17, of Saskatoon, SK, enjoyed her home course advantage on Moon Lake, firing rounds of 76-80 (156) to outclass her competitors and easily claim the winner’s trophy. Kelsey Klatt, 15, of Fort Qu’Appelle, SK, finished second with scores of 100-88 while third spot went to 13-year-old Thea Hedemann of Saskatoon (94-101).
The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Reay, Taylor Afseth, Taylor Smith, 16, of Swift Current, and Thomas Weikle. The Sundog Skills competition divisional winners were Reay again, Jehremy Ryde, Chad Lavallee and Andrew Zaba, 18, of Deer Valley.
Jeff Chambers, Saskatchewan Golf Association High Performance Coach and MJT Tournament Director, was pleased with the turnout, particularly in the Girls division, and rated the event a great success. He continues the three-series MJT Saskatchewan schedule on June 3rd and 4th at North Battleford Golf Club in North Battleford, with the MJT-ACT/UCT Junior Classic presented once again by Finora - a qualifier for Maple Leaf Team Canada to Scotland this August. The final MJT stop in the province is July 4th and 5th back in Saskatoon at The Willows Golf Club - the CPGA of Saskatchewan Junior Championship presented by AirSource. These dates are one week prior to the provincial junior championship there and the tournament is also a qualifier for the North American Junior Championship in Texas, USA, this December. For more information or to register, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.
About the MJT
As a not-for-profit association, the national Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) presented by Boston Pizza is Canada’s only major junior tour run exclusively by Canadian PGA Professionals. The program helps develop Canada's junior golfers, offering clinics, tournaments, international competitions and more. From free introductory clinics sponsored by Ford to the major CPGA Zone-sponsored junior championships, the MJT offers a quality experience for players. For more information please visit www.maplejt.com.
Contact:
Elaine Denton,
Marketing & PR, MJT
T: 604-943-1645
Email: edenton@maplejt.com